Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike
Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike is a rockfill dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike
The primary purpose of Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - New England District (federal). It impounds the Millers River near Athol.
The dam stands 49 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 76,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 175 square miles. Completed in 1942, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/19/2021.
At 49 feet, this dam is taller than 92% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Athol |
| River/Stream | Millers River |
| Coordinates | 42.63163, -72.12542 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Height | 49 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 76,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 76,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 175 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 56,600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - New England District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00963 |
| Federal ID | MA00963S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |